I happen to like Cam Newton. He’s got swag. Heâs got style. He’s got a serious hat and scarf collection. Not sure what to call his vibe but itâs unique. But whatâs not unique is his list of top 10 NFL quarterbacks that he released last week on his 4th and 1 podcast. He’s not alone releasing lists like this one, snubbing the incumbent Super Bowl MVP.
10. Baker Mayfield – Buccaneers
9. Justin Herbert – Chargers
8. C.J. Stroud – Texans
7. Jayden Daniels – Commanders
6. Jared Goff – Lions
5. Matt Stafford – Rams
4. Joe Burrow – Bengals
3. Patrick Mahomes – Chiefs
2. Lamar Jackson – Ravens
1. Josh Allen – Bills
Now I know lists like this, where the name Jalen Hurts is conspicuous by its absence, tend to rile Eagles fans up and create a hate frenzy toward the author and thatâs fine, itâs part of being a true fan. I donât get caught up in other peopleâs opinions. If they want to broadcast their intelligence or lack thereof in ether space for the world to see thatâs their own business. I do get amused at lists like Camâs that have only two Super Bowl winners on it and the one whoâs got three rings is listed as number three. Of course putting Lamar Jackson in the two slot gave me a good belly-laugh. Wake me up when he wins a big game. Good quarterbacking after all isnât about putting up gaudy numbers or winning hollow MVP awards. Itâs about winning championships. The end. Â
Thatâs why when I heard former Eagle Jordan Mathews on Matt Lombardo and Mike Tannierâs podcast – Between the Hashmarks this week my faith in humanity and human intellect was restored.
Matthews didnât hesitate when asked who todayâs quarterbacks should model their game after.
âI know Cam made some ripples with his list…I have no problem saying this. If I had a young quarterback, and letâs say Iâm coaching, and I had to pick one guy to say, âI want you to watch this guy and I want you to approach the game this way at the quarterback positionâ it would be Jalen Hurts⦠Jalen Hurts is at the top of that list for me.â
Thatâs not just lip service. Matthews has caught passes from his share of signal-callers including but not limited to – Carson Wentz, Ryan Tannehill, and Jimmy Garoppolo. He also played alongside Hurts during the quarterbackâs rookie season in 2020. What stood out wasnât just the talent. It was the mentality.
âTen years ago, I would have said Peyton Manning, right?â Matthews continued. âJalen Hurts is that guy now. Heâs a finisher. Heâs a leader. You donât have to worry about what youâre getting day to day.â
The comments came after a humorous anecdote about a Philly fan approaching Matthews at a YMCA in Nashville to press him about his quarterback rankings. The moment may have been casual, but the answer was not.
âYou got Pat (Mahomes), who I think is in another stratosphere. I donât think we should even rank Pat,â Matthews admitted. âAfter that, itâs between Lamar, between Jalen, between Burrow, and between Josh Allen – take your pick.â
What separates Hurts from the rest, in Matthewsâ eyes, is consistency, leadership, and a rare maturity that makes him the ideal model for a young quarterback.
âPeople say Jalen has a crazy supporting cast,â Matthews said. âIâm gonna tell you right now, thereâs a lot of people with great supporting casts that wouldâve found a way to mess it up. Jalenâs a finisher. Thatâs why I love watching him play. Heâs probably one of my favorite all-around men in the NFL right now.â
You can listen to the full episode here.
In a league obsessed with arm talent and raw athleticism, Hurts continues to separate himself through something harder to quantify: mindset. Itâs not just that he wins. Itâs how he wins – quietly, consistently, and with the kind of presence that earns the respect of teammates and veterans alike.
Jordan Matthews sees it. So do the Eagles and more and more each season, so will the rest of the NFL.
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